High School Sports

Focus. That is the buzzword for this year’s Carroll County High School football team.

The team will face a tough schedule this season, one that includes a renewal of the Carroll vs. Henry rivalry and four straight road games against quality opponents. But head coach Mike Weedman and his coaching staff have the Panthers prepared and ready to face the challenge as a team.

Cross country has become newly popular at Carroll County High School, as the team swelled to 33 runners this season.

First-year head coach Brian Crank said the student-athletes have been enthusiastic and are showing up to practice every day.

The Panthers will field varsity girls and boys teams, as well as a JV boys team. The team includes seven seniors: Michael Burns, Cody Cruz, Michael Hall, Sarah Hawkins, Sierra Martinez, Brad Osborne and Joseph Parker.

Expectations are high for the Lady Panthers volleyball team after winning their first-ever 31st District championship last season. But the girls are determined and more than ready for the challenge and to surpass it, aiming for an 8th Region championship, first-year head coach Lynn Eaglin said.

The Carroll County High School soccer teams hosted alumni games Saturday, Aug. 3. It was the first ever alumni game for the girls program and the sixth annual for the boys.

In the girls match, the alumni won, 8-0. While the score may have appeared one-sided, head coach Greg Damron was pleased with the way his team hung with the alumni, which included five college players.

Carroll County High School football held their annual training camp July 29-31, at Happy Hills Christian Service Camp in Carroll County.

“Best training camp we’ve ever had, by far, and we’ve still got another day,” head coach Mike Weedman said Tuesday, July 30. The players have had a great attitude, good work ethic and have not complained once, he said.

“They’re tired, beat up and sore and they’re not complaining,” Weedman said. “I’m so proud of this bunch.”

The Panthers soccer team looks to defend its 31st District and NCKC Conference titles this season. The team boasts a good balance of both experience – five seniors anchor the team – and youthful talent, however the bench will be shallow.

“The upside on low numbers is we have more quality players than quantity,” head coach Ben Crutcher said. The team has about 25 players. While there are few middle school players, some have never played soccer before.

The Lady Panthers soccer team will be changing up its style of play this season after three years of relying heavily on its defensive line.

Over the past three years, the team has depended on the defensive line to be the backbone and feed the ball forward, he said. This year, the team still has a great defensive line, but head coach Greg Damron said he wants to give the midfield more responsibility. The team also will switch to a stopper/sweeper formation. The goal is to control the ball more and translate that into wins.

The Carroll County High School golf teams have a new home this season: Fairway Golf Course in Wheatly, Ky. and Perry Park Country Club in Perry Park, Ky.

Athletic Director Paul Stone said Tuesday that the matches moved from General Butler State Resort Park because Fairway and Perry Park offer more holes – 18 at Fairway and 27 at Perry Park – as well as a driving range, both of which are beneficial to the players. It also was easier to schedule matches there.